Apparatus for cleaning and dressing bowling lanes



Sept. 29, 1964 3,150,396

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND DRESSING BOWLING LANES v. UNTERBRINK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1962 INVENTOR. VICTOR UNTERBRINK Mania WWzd/ma/n ditty.

V. UNTERBRINK APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND DRESSING BOWLING LAN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VICTOR UNTERBQINK ditty.

P 29, 1964 v. UNTERBRINK 3,150,396

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND DRESSING BOWLING LANES Filed June 26, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. VICTOQ UNTEPBQINK BY (Vi /1&0 7". Rid/mm (Jiffy.

United States Patent 3 150,396 APEARATUS FOR (IiEANlNG AND DRESSHNG BOWLING LANES Victor Unterbrlnir, Ottawa, Ohio, assignor to Pines Engineering Co., 1110., Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 26, 1962, Ser. No. 285,434 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-93) The present invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for cleaning and applying dressing to a floor surface and is more particularly concerned with the novel construction, assembly and mode of operation of selfpropelled apparatus designed to initially wipe clean and to then apply dressing to the surface of a bowling lane or other surface, and over selected areas thereof.

Bowling lanes in particular are difficult to clean and then dress because of the need to avoid the build-up of excessive quantities of lane dressing in any area or areas thereof and further because it is desirable that all lanes in a series be dressed the same so as to make them uniformly responsive to a bowling ball advanced therealong. Heretofore, bowling lanes have been swept manually and by machine sweepers and then a fine coating of lubricating oil or other dressing, liquid or viscous, has been applied to the cleaned surface as by spraying. Spraying has been found to be most unsatisfactory primarily because the spray cannot be applied evenly over the entire surface of a lane, to say nothing about a series of lanes, and further, sprayed dressing material is deposited in the gutters, in the ball-return tracks, on the foul line and even over areas of the approach surface. This latter results in the player slipping during delivery of a ball, Whereas dressing deposited in the gutters and ball-return tracks accumulates on the ball surface and in the finger holes of the ball and results in finger slippage. Uneven application of lane dressing resulting in excessive accumulation of same on certain lane areas creates a sticky condition on the lane. Furthermore, an excessive build-up of dressing is gradually worn away only where the ball travels, thereby making a groove for the ball and decreasing player control.

In accordance with the present invention, means and apparatus is provided for cleaning the surface of the bowling lane in advance of the application of lane dressing which is applied in a novel manner uniformly over the entire length of the lane without material loss and without the deposit of any dressing in the gutters or on the ball return tracks. The apparatus, which is self-propelled, functions to stop short of the foul line so as to avoid any likelihood of lane dressing being deposited thereon and subsequently picked up by the shoe of a bowler who may touch the foul line or pass slightly beyond same.

These advantages are attained by the provision of a novel dressing applicator which follows closely behind means for wiping the lane clean of all foreign matter, including a previously applied lane dressing. The apparatus herein disclosed is self-propelled and it has the advantage of applying the dressing directly onto the lane surface in such manner that there is no possibility of any dressing being deposited in the gutters or on the ball return tracks. Further, the apparatus is such that application of lane dressing stops short of the foul line.

Patented Sept. 29, 1964 It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide an apparatus having the foregoing advantages.

Another object is to provide a self-propelled apparatus of the character referred to which is entirely automatic in its operation and is under complete control of the operator at all times.

Another object is to provide, in a single apparatus, novel means to remove previously applied dressing and dirt from the surface of a bowling lane and to apply a fresh layer of dressing onto the surface immediately after it has been so cleaned.

Another object is to provide a novel lane dressing applicator.

Another object is to provide a rugged, power-operated apparatus of the character described with novel structural characteristics that render it highly efiicient in use, inexpensive to manufacture and use, simple to operate and one which includes novel means to prevent application of dressing to any surface not intended to receive such dressing.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other advantages and objects of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lane cleaning and dressing applying apparatus embodying the features of the invention;

P16. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus, showing the housing and end panels removed;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the left-hand side of the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 2, showing a portion of a bowling lane in section;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the right-hand side of the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 2, showing part of the end wall broken away;

PEG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the applicator roller and its mounting, taken substantially on line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the applicator roller, taken on line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing a modified form of roller construction.

Bowling lanes are constructed of wood having requisite degrees of hardness to resist wear at points of ball impact and to assist friction engagement between the lane and ball during a major distance of its travel down the lane. These respective lane areas are constructed of hard maple and soft pine. All surfaces are coated with lacquer and unless protected by a suitable lane dressing, the lacquer tends to burn from frictional impact, to build up around points of ball impact and, not infrequently, to accumulate on the ball. Obviously, the application of too much dressing anywhere along the length of the lane, or in the gutters, as usually occurs when a dressing is applied by spraying, will result in such dressing accumulating on the ball and in the finger holes thereof.

The apparatus disclosed in the accompanying drawings is designed to apply dressing uniformly on any smooth surface and particularly on the surface 11 of a bowling lane. The apparatus functions to wipe the lane surface clean prior to the application of the lane dressing thereon, the application of which is brought to a halt automatically when the apparatus approaches the foul line indicated at 12 located adjacent the upwardly inclined ends 13 of gutters 14.

Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, and particularly to the FIG. 1 disclosure, the apparatus has the general shape of a substantially rectangular shallow body including a housing comprising a cover 15, removable end panels 16 and a. handle generally indicated at 17. The housing -16 is of a width substantially greater than the width of the bowling lane and it encloses a basic frame 'structure'im eluding upstanding end plates 18, suitably connected together'rigidly as by -means of a perimeter frame 19 con nected to the. lower. margins thereof. The end plates 18 eachhave avbracket-2'l secured firmly, as by welding, to onc'sideedge thereof to provide a mounting for handle lli-wihichis .pivotally connected' thereto as by bolts 22.

A pair of shafts 23 (FIG. 2) each carrying rollers 24, extend betwee'n endplates 18 and are journalled therein, one adjacent each sideedge'near the bottom edges thereof;v The rollers 24 preferably are'fa'bricated of suitable plasticfmaterial, such as nylon, and they constitute means to support the apparatus uponthesurface being dressed. As willbe explained presently, one of the shafts 23 is power operated so as to be rotatably driven to drive its-rollers 24 'for. advancing-the apparatus along the lane while -in'use. Each end plate 18'also mounts, on its outside face, arig'id stub shaft 25 carrying a wheel 26 of a diameter to dispose itslower perimeter below the surface of the bowlinglane upon which the apparatus is placed. They function, however, as wheels to support the entire apparatus above a surface over which it is wheeled when not in service and, more important, they cooperate with the 'nor'm'al' upward inclination'13 of the gutters 14 for a purpose to be explained presently.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the basic frame st ructure'and particularly end plates 18 mounts a power. driven surface cleaning assembly, generally indicated at' 27, anda power driven lane dressing applicator 1 assembly, generally indicated at 28. The surface cleanih'gaa's'sembly-fl "is-a self-contained unit arranged at the forward or leading side of the apparatus (left-hand end asviewed in FIG. 4). It includes a roll 29 of suitable disposable sheet material, preferably an unwoven soft cotton cloth, that is mounted on a shaft 31 having its'end journalled" for free rotation one in each of a pair of mountingplates 32, one arranged on the inside face of each end plate'18. These mounting plates each carry a use plate 32:: that has its side edges guided for vertical sliding benea'th flanges 33 secured to or otherwise formed on said end plates. Each back plate 32a has a boss 34' (FIG; 3) on-itsoutwardly disposed face that projects freely through a'guid'e slot 35 opening'onto the top. edge ofthe related end plate 18; Bosses 34 constitute journals 7 for a take-up shaft 36 bridging plates 32 and extending parallel to but spaced forwardly of shaft 31. Take-up shaft- 36-projectsoutwardly'ofone end plate 15, as best shown 'in- FIG. 3, and mounts firmly thereon a toothed wheel 37 which constitutes means for connecting said shaft-with a power source operable for imparting stepbyestep rotation tosaid take-up shaft.

Refern'ngnow to" FIG. 4', the web 29a of roll 29 is carried downwardly andistrained around a cushioned roller 38; journalled at its ends in said mounting plates 32' and adjacent the lower edges thereof, and then upwardly around take-up shaft 36; A pair of springs 39 (one shown in FIG. 3) are bridged across bosses 34 so as to-n'ormally urge plates 32 and their shafts and roller downwardly to maintain web 29a in surface contactwith the surface of the bowling lane or other surface being treated. Maximum downward movement of said surface cleaning assembly islim ited by abutment of bosses 34 with the bottom ends of therespective slots 35. It should be apparent that the entire surface cleaning assembly may be removed from the apparatus as a unit, upon disengaging springs 39 from bosses 34 'and lifting the assembly out of the apparatus, thus facilitating replacement and threading of a new cloth around the roller and shafts thereof.

In operation, insofar as the structure has been described, the apparatus is guided manually along the bowling lane surface toward foul line 12 so as to advance the web of roll 29 across said surface for sweeping same and Wiping up all foreign particles thereon, includingpreviously applied dressings. At the same time, the web 29a is slowly advanced from the supply roll 29 to take-up shaft 36, so as to present a clean web surface to the lane surface being cleaned. The drive means to accomplish this will be described presently. V

The power operated lane dressing applicator assembly 28 includes a largeroller 41; best shown in FIG. 5, adapted to retain a roll of dressingfimpregnated webbing 4-2. The roller 41 is comprised of a tubular shell '43 firmly connected at onefend to a large diameter. hub portion 44 having an axial stud 45-extending outwardly thereof and journalled in a bearing 46 mounted in a plate 47 secured, as-by welding, to the end plate 18. A'rigid axial,

stud-48 extends into and is substantially coextensivewith shell 43. The shell 43 is slit longitudinally asat 49 7 (1 16.6) for a purpose to be explained presently.

A removable cover portion 50 is telescoped normally uponrelease-of the turn-buttons the mounting plate 53 and cover portion Sit-may be removed readily so as to expose the interior of roller 41- to admit insertion of I the roll of dressing impregnated webbing 42. When the Webbing roll is in place, the free end of its web is drawn out throughslot 49 and is extended sufficiently to be wrapped around-the outside of a foam type of cushioning material 7 a '56 adhesively secured to theoutside circumferential surface of shell43. I

The roller assembly is located" in theapparatusin a sprocket 57 carriedonstud'45, a chain 58 and a sprocket 59 on the shaft 61 ofan electric motor 62 mounted on one end plate 18-, for rotatably driving saidroller during use. In this manner the dressing impregnated webbing is moved rapidly relative to the contacted surfaceso as to cause the dressing therein to be applied to the surface. When the exposed-area of webbing is relieved or substantially relieved of its dressing, the webbing is pulled outwardly through slot 49 and the used portion may be severed therefrom by any suitable means. Applicant has found that a grooved backing bar 63 carried' byplate 53 and over which'the webbing-may be laid, atfords'a surface over which acutting knife can be drawn to sever the used portion of the web. A suflicient quantity of unused webbing is then withdrawn from the. roll and the roller wrapped with same.

FIG. 7is illustrative of a roller 41a comprised of hinged halves lib-41c adapting the roller to be'opened without removal from the-apparatus for inserting therein a relief 7 webbing.

A motored is carried by the other end plate 18 and it has its driven shaft 65 extendingoutwardly through said plate and mounting firmly a sprocket 66 (FIGS. 2, 4) having a drive connection through an endless chain 67 with a sprocket 68' carried firmlyfon the projecting end of one of the roller carrying shafts 23 for driving same. Both motors 62 and 64 are connected in a common electrical circuit having a switch 69' (FIG. 1) preferably mounted on or adjacent to thehand-grip portion 17a of handle 17 so as to be under control of 'the operator at all times. With such common control, the wiper is driven at all times during driving operation of rollers 24.

To drive the wiper take-up shaft 36, the end of the V Means is provided in the form of a chain drive comprising a applicator roller shaft 51 projects through the mounting plate 53 (FIG. 5 and mounts firmly thereon an eccentric pin 71. The pin extends through an aperture in one end of an arm 72 (FIG. 3) the other end of which is formed with a tooth 73 disposed for engagement wi h the teeth of wheel 37. A suitable guide strap 74 is provided for said arm 72. A spring 75 functions to urge the tooth 73 into engagement with the toothed wheel 37 at all times. During operation of motor 62, and rotation of roller .1, the arm 72 is reciprocated so as to engage successive teeth in said wheel 37. This action imparts a step-by-step rotation to take-up shaft 36 for advancing the wiping cloth over roller 38 during machine operation. Reverse rotation of take-up shaft 36 is prevented by a spring-loaded pawl 76 engaged with toothed wheel 37.

In order to control the quantity of dressing delivered by the roller 41, the operating speed of said roller is controlled through adjustment of a rheostat 77 connected in the circuit to drive motor 62 and mounted on one of the end plates 18. As best shown in FIG. 4, the rheostat includes a manually adjustable level 78 having a control line 79 leading from it to handle portion 17a.

In use, the apparatus is positioned at the pin setting end of the bowling lane with its outrigger wheels 26 overhanging gutters 14 so that it is supported on the lane surface by rollers 24. The motors 62 and d4 are started whereupon the driven rollers 24 advance the apparatus toward foul line 12 at a predetermined uniform rate of speed while the applicator roller is being rotated. During such advance, the lane dressing applicator roller 41 is rotated at speeds determined by the setting of rheostat 77 and the web is advanced onto its take-up shaft 36 during such operation.

Dressing is applied to the cleaned lane surface in the form of a uniform thin layer. When the apparatus approaches the foul line, the outrigger wheels 26 initially engage and then ride up the inclined ends 13 of the gutters 14. It should be noted that these wheels are located ahead of the rotating applicator. Consequently, when said wheels climb out of the gutters, the applicator roller is raised out of contact with the lane surface and lane wiping and all application of lane dressing is thereby stopped. As this occurs ahead of the foul line, there never is any possibility of lane dressing being deposited on or within the area closely adjacent to or beyond said foul line even though the operator may fail to stop operation.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be carried out will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning and dressing a bowling lane comprising, a frame structure including spaced end plates, rollers supporting said frame structure for movement on said lane, drive means for at least some of said rollers, mounting plates removably mounted one on each end plate, an axle journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, a take up shaft journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, a roller journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, at web of fabric material carried by the axle and trained over the roller and then around the take-up shaft, spring means to urge the mounting plates downwardly to maintain the web in contact with the lane, a hollow roller journalled at its ends in said end plates and having surface contact with the lane, said hollow roller having a longitudinal slot therein, a roll of material enclosed in said hollow roller and having its web extended through said slot and wrapped around the circumferential surface of said hollow roller, and drive means for rotating said hollow roller and takeup shaft.

2. Apparatus for cleaning and dressing a bowling lane comprising, a frame structure including spaced end plates, rollers supporting said frame structure for movement on said lane, mounting plates removably mounted one on each end plate, an axle journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, 21 take-up shaft journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, a roller journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, a web of fabric material carried by the axle and trained over the roller and then around the takeup shaft, spring means to urge the mounting plates downwardly to maintain the web in contact with the lane, a hollow roller journalled at its ends in said end plates and having surface contact with the lane, said hollow roller having a longitudinal slot therein, a roll of material enclosed in said hollow roller and having its web extended through said slot and wrapped around the circumferential surface of said hollow roller, and drive means for rotating said hollow roller and take-up shaft.

3. Apparatus for cleaning and dressing a bowling lane comprising, a frame structure including spaced end plates, rollers supporting said frame structure for movement on said lane, mounting plates removably mounted one on each end plate, an axle journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, a take-up shaft journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, a roller journalled at its ends in said mounting plates, a web of fabric material carried by the axle and trained over the roller and then around the takeup shaft, means operable to rotate the take-up shaft to advance the web over the roller, spring means to urge the mounting plates downwardly to maintain the web in contact with the lane, a hollow roller journalled at its ends in said end plates and having surface contact with the lane, said hollow roller having a longitudinal slot therein, a roll of material enclosed in said hollow roller and having its web extended through said slot and wrapped around the surface of said hollow roller, and drive means for rotating said hollow roller.

4. Apparatus for cleaning and dressing a bowling lane comprising, a frame structure including spaced end plates, rollers supporting said frame structure for movement on the surface of said lane, mounting plates mounted one on each end plate for vertical adjustment, an axle journalled in said mounting plates, a take-up shaft journalled in said mounting plates, a roller journalled in said mounting plates, a web of fabric material carried by the axle and trained over the roller and then around the take-up shaft, means to impart step-by-step rotation to the take-up shaft to advance the web over the roller, spring means to urge the mounting plates downwardly to maintain the web in contact with the lane, a hollow roller journalled at its ends in said end plates and having surface contact with the lane, said hollow roller having a longitudinal slot therein, a roll of material enclosed in said hollow roller and having its web extended through said slot and wrapped around the surface of said hollow roller, and drive means for rotating said hollow roller.

5. Apparatus for cleaning and dressing a bowling lane comprising, a frame structure including spaced end plates, rollers supporting said frame structure for movement on the surface of said lane, mounting plates mounted one on each end plate for vertical adjustment, an axle journalled in said mounting plates, a take-up shaft journalled in said mounting plates, a roller journalled in said mounting plates, a web of fabric material carried by the axle and trained over the roller and then around the take-up shaft, means to impart step-by-step rotation to the take-up shaft to advance the web over the roller, means to urge the mounting plates downwardly to maintain the web in contact with the lane, a hollow roller journalled at its ends in said end plates and having surface contact with the lane, said hollow roller having a longitudinal slot therein, a roll of material enclosed in said hollow roller and having its web extended through said slot and wrapped around the surface of said hollow roller, and drive means for rotating said hollow roller.

6. Apparatus for cleaning and dressing a bowling lane comprising, a frame structure, rollers supporting said frame structure for movement on the surface of said lane,

7' an axle. journalled in said frame structurqa take-up shaft journalledfin said frame structure, a roller journalled in said frame structure, a web of, material carried by-said axle and, trained overthe rollerand then around the takeup shaft, means to impart 'step-hystep rotation to the takeup shaftto advance the Web over the roller, means to maintain the Web in contact with the lane, a hollowlroller 'journalled at its-ends in, said frames tructure and having" References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS Anderson July 21', 1925 Alvarado Nov. 13, 1928 Moorhead May19, 1936 Schlegel Aug. 25, 1942 Bailey Feb; 12, 1946 More Feb. 5, 1957 Hutchinson May 26, 1959 Fallen et al Mar. 29, 1960 Wilson et .al J an. 23, 1962' Ludwig et al July '10, 1962 Wroten Apr. 2, 1953 

1. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND DRESSING A BOWLING LANE COMPRISING, A FRAME STRUCTURE INCLUDING SPACED END PLATES, ROLLERS SUPPORTING SAID FRAME STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT ON SAID LANE, DRIVE MEANS FOR AT LEAST SOME OF SAID ROLLERS, MOUNTING PLATES REMOVABLY MOUNTED ONE ON EACH END PLATE, AN AXLE JOURNALLED AT ITS ENDS IN SAID MOUNTING PLATES, A TAKE UP SHAFT JOURNALLED AT ITS ENDS IN SAID MOUNTING PLATES, A ROLLER JOURNALLED AT ITS ENDS IN SAID MOUNTING PLATES, A WEB OF FABRIC MATERIAL CARRIED BY THE AXLE AND TRAINED OVER THE ROLLER AND THEN AROUND THE TAKE-UP SHAFT, SPRING MEANS TO URGE THE MOUNTING PLATES DOWNWARDLY TO MAINTAIN THE WEB IN CONTACT WITH THE LANE, A HOLLOW ROLLER JOURNALLED AT ITS ENDS IN SAID END PLATES AND HAVING SURFACE CONTACT WITH THE LANE, SAID HOLLOW ROLLER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN, A ROLL OF MATERIAL ENCLOSED IN SAID HOLLOW ROLLER AND HAVING ITS WEB EXTENDED THROUGH SAID SLOT AND WRAPPED AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACE OF SAID HOLLOW ROLLER, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID HOLLOW ROLLER AND TAKEUP SHAFT. 